📚 Tale Teller Club Press (TTCP): Strata 9 Lust and Loins (Limerence) | Book of Immersion V I

Sep 28, 2025

Strata 9 Lust and Loins (Limerence) | Book of Immersion V I | Sarnia de la Mare

Welcome to Immersion, you have reached Strata 9

Lust and Loins (Limerence)

Limerence is a uniquely human phenomenon that new lovers, potential lovers, and sometimes even strangers, may experience. Limerence is a state of mind (not solely romantic) that typically includes persistent, sometimes depressing thoughts, and a deep yearning for the object of one's affection. It can be easily confused with love. Often human beings can find themselves addicted to these obsessive feelings and can easily be overwhelmed by adoration for another human being. Limerence cannot be turned on and off like a machine. It can come from nowhere and disappear without logic. The experience of this sensory state is proven to be inspiring, connective, unifying, disruptive, and even excruciating, yet it continues to mark the human trajectory of existence through time and place.

'Good *dundeal Mr. Renyke Man, ' said Flex excitedly, 'privately hoping that his new friend and mentee was not a complete idiot after all.

'We leave at dark mind,' said Shabra. 'Take some time for food and rest. You might need your strength. I will get food.' Renyke watched her take weapons from the vehicle, knives and a small crossbow.

The group is in an enclosure flanked by half-deconstructed concrete walls. There are large metal containers lying around with shrubbery and foliage trying to make a stand against the manmade environment. Tumbleweed played in the soft wind searching for a home.

Maybeline scurried around searching for food and sniffing the air. She could smell something sinister, the scent of danger, as Renyke studied her movements.

Flex kicked some redundant ashes by an upturned metal water tank. 'I can make us a fire,' he said, taking a fistful of old rusty lighters and tinder from one of his huge pockets. His brightly coloured patchwork overcoat seemed to store an abundance of useful things. There were small pieces of mechanical paraphernalia, vintage innards from antique items, little motors, motherboards and old PC parts. There were secret pockets and compartments for weapons and a waterproof lining held everything together.

‘Do you take all these item everywhere you go?’ asked Renyke.

‘Yes sir-ee, some days *man’dun gotta make *swapsie-trade. .

And other days, well, there are enemies and they kill for the fun of it. Everything has a use in the *Zones brother. You learn that quick here.'

Maybeline found a water flow from a pipe tucked in the grass and took a long drink.

Renyke began to pace. 'Shabra is taking her time,’ he said, standing near the opening of the enclosure.

‘She’ll come, she is huntin’ tis all my friend. You got attached already?’

Renyke stared at Flex and mumbled, ‘We need that ride.'

Then he checked POS whose signal was intermittent.

'.......What are the signs of being attracted to somebody?'

POS took a moment to compile an answer……..

……Do you mean human responses?

'……yes, yes, of course ‘humans’, Renyke replied.'

POS continued

…..nervousness around the subject of the attraction,

…..extended thoughts about the subject,

…..obsessive thoughts beyond normal curiosity about the subject,

…..insomnia due to obsessive considerations of the subject,

…..anxiety over possible outcomes of imaginary scenarios involving the subject,

…..a desire to touch the intimate parts of the subject,

…..dreams about the subject,

…..fantasy building scenarios between the human and the subject,

…..being overly concerned about….

‘Enough,’ said Renyke, irritated with the voice in his head.

Finally, after an hour or more, Shabra returned.

She carried two dead badgers from a hook on her belt. Renyke watched her as she washed a wide glinting blade under the water that flowed from the broken pipe.

Shabra hid a knowing smile as she turned and dried the knife across her glutes.

‘This water’s good. Your rat is a good scout for provisions. We can fill up the tanks and flask before we go.’

The new acquaintances were relaxed and considering preparation for the short but dangerous car journey to the *Edge.

Shabra checked the vehicle mechanics, the doors and metal buttresses worked in perfect synch and there were six exhausts. Everything looked fine. She filled the water kegs and put them in the boot.

‘Where is the vehicle from?’ Asked Renyke.

‘I built it,' answered Shabra, 'from scratch. 'Well, I had several wrecks and put my beaut together.

Me n her, we like lovers. She drives me crazy with her vibes.’

Shabra looked at Renyke parting her lips into a wry smile. They were oily from the fat of the meal.

She winked through long dark lashes.

Renyke felt a thump in his heart, a deep penetrating surge of something enthralling. And somewhere, a tingle that bounced around his loins like an arrow seeking a target.

Suddenly, there was a distant high-pitched sound, like a siren or swarm. It seemed to be getting louder when Flex and Shabra grabbed Renyke, throwing him into the vehicle.

Seconds later they were surrounded by a marauding mass of screaming mutant children. Some were made of broken body parts with human faces, others were small walking babies with burnt skin. Some had extra limbs and even two heads. They were crying and screeching, banging toy drums and chanting verses. The noise was deafening.

One of them, seemingly the leader, leapt onto Shabra's car bonnet wailing and stamping its heavy metal feet onto the windscreen.

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Sep 28, 2025

Strata 9 Lust and Loins (Limerence) | Book of Immersion V I | Sarnia de la Mare